Protecting Rhode Island's Working Farms

Agriculture in Rhode Island (25 minute video)

Five farmers share their stories - the urgent need to protect Rhode Island’s remaining working farms is complicated by challenges that farmers face: finding land to farm and sustaining the economic viability of farms.

FarmRI 2.0: Crafting the Next Generation of Initiatives for
Saving Rhode Island's Working Farms

A day-long forum where farmers, land trust leaders and agriculture leaders discussed Rhode Island's farm conservation issues and identified the best strategies for protecting working farms.

Download the 8 page brochure for community leaders with key findings from FarmRI 2.0:

The following videos are persentations from FarmRI 2.0.

Introductory Remarks - Framing the day's discussions (7 minute video)

Barbara van Beuren welcomes participants and introduces the days discussion.

RI Farmland Trends and Farm Conservation Issues (22 minute video)

Rupert Friday outlines the urgent need to conserve RI's remaining farms. The state lost most of its farmland, many farmers will retire soon, and remaining farmland could be lost to development. The state needs to improve its farmland protection program.

Keeping Protected Farms Affordable & In Production (15 minute video)

Rich Hubbard explains how Massachusetts' Farmland Protection Program ensures that the farmland they protect stays in production and affordable for farmers.

Ellie Kastanopolous dicusses how innovative strategies help new farmers get access to farmland and help them to build equity when they lease farmland. Ellie shares an inspiring story about a retiring farmer transferring his farm to a new farmer.

Agricultural Commissions Improve Communications (15 minute video)

Peter Westover explains how Agricultural Commissions in Massachusetts ensure that farmers’ interests and perspectives are included in town decisions.